AUBURNDALE, FL – A Florida man is on the brink of facing murder charges following the discovery of his girlfriend’s “brutal” murder, police revealed Wednesday. Authorities tracked and apprehended Andrew Ridgeway, 46, in Georgia after he allegedly misled them about Stacy Ann Powell’s whereabouts.
Powell, 48, was reported missing on February 6 after failing to log on for work, sparking concern among her employer and friends. Police, acting on the report, visited her home only to find a handyman present.
According to Chief Terry Storie, Ridgeway later saw police on his home’s surveillance and phoned the handyman, asking about the officer’s presence.
During a phone interview with law enforcement, Ridgeway, mentioning he was in North Carolina, claimed Powell had left for Jamaica to visit her sick father. His narrative quickly unraveled, though, as inconsistencies surfaced.
Contrary to his claims, Powell’s grandmother was residing in Auburndale, not North Carolina. Moreover, Powell’s father was not even in Jamaica—he remained in North Carolina and had contacted the police himself, worried over his daughter’s silence.
Mounting suspicions prompted police to obtain a search warrant for Powell’s residence. Upon entry, they discovered her lifeless body. Evidence indicated she had been murdered with disturbing violence, leading three forensic teams to the scene.
Police Chief Storie, describing the death as “horrific,” emphasized the gratuitous nature of the crime in a press conference. Meanwhile, Ridgeway, found driving Powell’s vehicle in Augusta, Georgia, faces charges in Florida for providing false information to law enforcement. Authorities are actively collaborating with the state attorney’s office to secure a murder warrant.
Currently detained in Georgia, Ridgeway awaits extradition. The case remains under investigation as officials aim to deliver justice for Powell’s tragic death.